Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-09
POLITICS OF OFFICE HOLDERS.
A Civil Service Question Answered.
TIE COMMISSIONERS SAY FEDERAL ExFi.oSEs CAN
NOT Be REMOVED FOR THEIR POLITICAL OPINIONS.

Aoh Non@iSoioNhnS SAn fkpkhaL fiotts tA>-
NOT Be REMOVED FOR THEIR POLITICAL OPINIONS.
To letter from Charles W. Rowland. chairman
or the local board OF examiners OF the Cincinnati
post-oce inquirtng whether efficient carriers and
clerks OF good character may be legally removed
because they do not agree politically with the
postmaster, Civil Service Commissioner obcrly
has replied at considerable length In his reply
MI ooeriy again goes over much Of the ground
covered In the report signed by himself and
commissioner Lyman OF the Chicago investi-
cation. He states that under the civIl-ser-
vice law the power OF removal is unrestricted.
except that removal may not be legally made
because the subordinate refuses % contri-
butte money for political purposes, or
because he refuses TO render political service or
because the subordinate refuses TO permit his su-
perlors 10 coerce his political opinions actions
for any oIner cause, says Mr.. Oberly. any person
In the civil service may be legally removed Mr.
Ooeriy then states that the appointing officer who
removes subordinate for refusing 10 contribute
money Tor poltical purposes may be punished by
both hue ana Imprisonment, but no penalty is pre-
scrtbed for the removal OF a subordinate for re-
fuSal TO render political service or for refusal 10
permit his political action TO be coerced by his
superior; but that removal for either OF the latter
causes would be illegal. The Commissioner adds:
- III an appointing of1cer were 10 violate the re-
moval-inhioting provisions In question Il may be-
safe 10 conclude that he would be permitted 10
remain In Office
Mr. Oberly says that one OF the eight funoaman-
tai provisions OF the ctvil-servca rules is that no
person In the public service is that reason I'M
der any obligation 10 render any political service
and that he will not be removed or otherwise pre-,
JUDGED for refusing TO do SO. Also that In exam
nations an inquiry as 10 the persons political SEN
timentS Is prohibited, and IL is provided that no
Discrimination Shall be made because OF politics.
Hence he holds that the law, fairy construed Is
that entrance TO the service shall be upon the
merit OF the applicant without regard TO politics
and that an appointing Officer who appoints
or refuses TO appoint applicant be-
cause OF the latterS politics. violates the law,
and that an appointing officer who removes an
employe because OF the latter's political opinion
or because the employe refuses 10 render political
service violates the law. Mr.. Oberly concludes as
follows:
"Entertaining these views. the Commission re-
plies to your question by saying that In the opin-
ION or the commission, the postmaster at Cincin-
natl cannot lawfully remove any carrier or clerk
Iof tne reason that the carrier Or Clerk belongs to
the political party to which the postmaster is op-
posed; that he can lawfully remove no person
from the classified postal service Cincinnati en-
cept for some other cause than The employees poiI.
1cai opinions or affiliations"